Just because you are a chronological adult doesn't mean you should give up your toys! Great toys spark the imagination, let you play, and increase creativity. I think I was drawn to making art dolls as my primary medium because of my lifelong affinity for toys. They are kind of grown up toys but they still connect me to enchantment.

I've wanted to make plushie things for a long time, but the fear that they would not sell and my utter lack of any sewing skill were sizable barriers. It took a complete collapse of the desire to make most of my popular things anymore to push me to try my hand.

So I bought a tutorial from Typing with Tea And made my first ever felt thing. Made about all the mistakes possible!

So with a little unwanted cat help from Kokopelli (he has a long way to go to be my dark craft apprentice), I made my own pattern to try. I can happily say I know what a gusset is now!

Made many fewer mistakes, biggest of which is the shape of the nose and placement of legs and embroidery detail, but my skills seem to be moving in the right direction! My first pattern and my second plushie of cheap felt. His little legs are poseable :)